Traditionally, the term “atlas” refers to a set of maps depicting specific territories. Our ATLAS is a similar set that charts areas of the gallery that are often invisible: the café, workspaces, the library, relaxation zones, spaces filled with activity as well as calm spaces, lectures, workshops, and games rooms. But even such spaces are a part of the gallery. ATLAS stands for “Ateliér tvorby a laboratoř asociativního snění” ⁠–⁠ literally translated, “Creative Studio and Laboratory of Associative Dreaming”.

You will find our ATLAS in the Trade Fair Palace ⁠–⁠ in the architecturally exceptional mezzanine gallery of the Small Hall. The individual ATLAS zones are loosely connected, and they offer views both looking in and looking out of the Trade Fair Palace. ATLAS is equipped with bespoke furnishings designed by Daniela Baráčková and Jakub Filip Novák from the No ArchitectsStudio. The graphic design was done by Anežka Minaříková a Marek Nedelka.

The individual ATLAS zones are complemented with works by contemporary artists such as Andrea Kaňkovská, Eva Koťátková, Kristina Fingerland, Anna Hulačová, Kundy Crew, Marie Lukáčová, Marie Tučková, from the Elpida organisation by: Marie Čížková, Marie Horynová, Marie Hrobařová, Anna Kolešová, Jaroslava Lomnická, Pavla Nelibová, Anna Paráková, Dana Píšová, and Pavla Tůmová, as well as by Tomáš Vaněk and works created by the participating public.

ATLAS is a new environment, one to which you can return as often as you like and free of charge. It can be a place to visit and be inspired by art, as well as a place to create and relax.

During the coming years, the ATLAS environment will be supplemented with both short-term and permanent displays of works by contemporary artists, who will also participate in public programmes for all age categories. Not only will the activities they carry out reflect their artistic practice, but they will also relate to the extensive number of displays of art ⁠–⁠ ranging from the nineteenth century to today ⁠–⁠ that are exhibited in the Trade Fair Place. In this way, they will establish a dialogue between present-day art and the art of the past, and also provide a critical interpretation of the art collections through modern-day lenses, thus supporting an open dialogue.

The space is more than just a location for the programmes initiated by the NGP and its educators ⁠–⁠ it is also a space where visitors can organise their own activities.

ATLAS creates a space that fulfils the functions of a museum aimed at the public, and in this way subscribes to the new ICOM definition of a museum, which, in addition to its traditional role of collecting, caring for, and exhibiting artworks also focuses on interpretation and on supporting communities.

Curatorial Team: Barbora Kleinhamplová, Eva Skopalová, Oldřich Bystřický
Trade Fair Palace ⁠–⁠ First Floor

National Gallery Prague – Trade Fair Palace